Charge 3 Firmware Release - 1.88.11

[KateFitbit]

8/14 Update: We are continuing to roll out the firmware update for Charge 3 and expect more users will see it as available. This is a progressive rollout, and all customers can expect to have it within a few weeks. We roll out releases in phases as a cautionary measure so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed. If you don't see the option to update, don't worry - you'll have it soon! 

Please use this thread to share your experience updating the firmware once it's received. If you have a different inquiry, please post in a thread with a similar topic or create a new post. 

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7/23 Update: the firmware update has only rolled out to a small percentage of users, and will roll out further next week. It should be rolling out to everyone soon. Thanks for your patience and interest, we look forward to hearing your feedback on the new firmware. 

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We've begun releasing new firmware (1.88.11) for Charge 3 to customers. This is a progressive rollout which means everyone will receive it at different stages until it has been completely released to all users. We roll out releases in phases as a cautionary measure so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed. 

*Firmware releases are not distributed based on region or location and can reach anyone no matter where you reside. We do not recommend performing a factory reset to force the update to your device as your data will be lost and you may not get the update. Please be patient and wait until you see the update banner inside of the Fitbit app to begin the firmware download.

WHAT’S NEW

Please click here for firmware notes. 

HOW DO I UPDATE?

Step by step instructions for updating your Charge 3 can be found here.

If you run into any trouble updating your Charge 3, please review these troubleshooting tips. 

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR CHARGE 3 FIRMWARE UPDATE: ALARMS CLEARED

We moved where you set alarms from the Fitbit app to your wrist! After you update, any alarms set will be cleared and need to set up again on the device. 

To make sure you don't miss an important alarm, open the Alarms app on Charge 3 and tap *+ Set up a new alarm*. Tap the checkmark to save and make sure it’s set.

[andrewinhouston]

I updated to the latest firmware today on my Charge 3.  At the end of the process, it told me that because the alarms are entered differently now, it was necessary to clear all of them.  Don't tell me after the fact!!!  Tell me before I start and I'll write them all down so I can recreate them on the device.

In the What's New for the release, you were clear that I could set the alarms on the Charge 3.  Why not just add a little bit more to warn me to save me data?

Luckily, the website portal still showed my alarms so I could recreate them.  However, this brings up another complaint: Please keep the website portal updated as well.  If I had just seen the alarms in the website portal (because whenever I go to the app it nags me with tips and GPS enable prompts that I do not want), I would have slept right through my alarm times tomorrow because the website still shows the original alarms.

[pnoguchi]

Yesterday my charge 3 showed the notice for firmware upgrade. With some trepidation, I connected both my iPhone and Charge 3 to power, and started the upgrade. The upgrade took about 45 minutes, and remarkably did not bork the Charge 3!

The only strange thing that happened is that the upgrade added a agenda app, which I deleted. The extra five or so watch faces also appeared, none of which appealed to me...

My opinion, FWIW, is that having both the Charge 3 and iPhone connected to power helped make the upgrade seamless. Or just maybe it was. pure luck...

[mcnicm20]

Every since my  upgrade the brightness setting on my device has gone down so I can no longer read it so I can't change any settings, or add any alarms ? Is there a way to fix this please ?

[Tolkienite]

Ok, I don't know if this is whats causing the issues with my fitbit, but since I cn't think of anything else:

1. The exercise tracking option won't run.  If I select 'Exercise', 'Workout', it starts but turns itself back off again within about 5 minutes.

2. The clock is running slow.  It was about 10 minutes behind yesterday at 7pm, after a lot of effort and resetting bluetooth on my phone, I managed to get it to sync and it went back to normal, but was 15 minutes behind again by this morning.

3. I can no longer sync my device either by phone or PC.  It just doesn't show up on screen,

4. Restarting my device has done nothing.

This is a massive issue and is rendeing my fitbit nearly unusable.  Please advise.

ETA: My fitbit says it is running version 28.20001.63.5.  i am using an iPhone 6 running 12.3.1. My laptop is running Windows 10.

[Mags11]

Uninstall tracker and fitbit app. Start again as if its a new device.

[Mags11]

Remove Fitbit app and tracker and start process again

[antigoneX]

Sympathies – I contacted fitbit support via twitter (I had to set up an account for this as I am not a twitter user but it is the only way to speak to the support people) and they are sending me a new fitbit, so I recommend that you do the same

[SWong19]

Hi 

I've been trying to update the software so many times now. I've restarted the tracker. I've deleted the app and reinstalled. But each time, it starts updating then after 5-10mins, it just said update fail.

Anyone else experiencing this?

[robman501a]

Yes @SWong19. I keep getting that all the time.

[WaywardSon]

One thing that seems able to cause problems during setup is having other devices paired to blue tooth. they advise unpairing everything prior to doing setup & then repairing the other stuff after, if this is applicable to anyone having problems. Might be worth a try if you haven't.

[curlytop529]

This update, creating such ridiculous issues when it was perfectly FINE,  will force,  anyone brave enough, to purchase an upgrade Fitbit. Im SO DISAPPOINTED in their customer service right now. 

[rickdlong]

If you didn't know, the Fitbit company was purchased last November by GOOGLE.  Might be a clue to reduced service and so so product line. . . . . 

[vikrantsagar]

I was having the same issues in updating firmware on charge3. Fitbit support is sending me a device.

Can anyone confirm if they received a new device and it has the latest firmware or they were able to update it properly?

[WaywardSon]

The replacement goes through a setup process. When mine was done it was running the new software.

How much of it was installed & how much was downloaded I don't know. I suspect it had the prior version and downloaded the update.

keep in mind that the one being replaced had been updated prior to replacement, which may drive the version it uses.

[KateFitbit · Accepted solution]

The Charge 3 firmware release of 1.88.11 should now be available to all customers today. I realize this was a longer than usual release and thank everyone for your patience. We have passed along your feedback to our team, including feedback on alarms now being handled on-device versus in-app. 

I created a new floated thread. Please post any post-update experiences here going forward. 

Thanks very much for your enthusiasm and feedback as we rolled out the release.